It was a great time. I watched the press conferences with a group of friends with an awesome theater setup, and there was plenty of cheering, groans, and gasps throughout the day (coupled with the always fantastic reactions on Twitter).

Some guys watch the Superbowl. Idiots like us get off on corporate press conferences. :)

Great blog, this really summed up my feelings about how I, as a consumer, feel about E3 and the upcoming holiday season. After Microsoft's horrible press conference on the 26th, I was incredibly worried that the publishers would dictate the agenda this year. Sony's announcement felt like that moment in an action movie where the hero saves everyone while everything explodes behind him. Not only did they save the day, they salvaged any confidence I had lost upon Microsoft's disastrous announcement. I don't want Microsoft's console to fail, because that would result in the loss of thousands of jobs for employees that had no control over Microsoft's policies. However, I do hope that Microsoft rectifies its policies so that, by the time we get to the holiday season, there is some fight for my dollars. Right now, however, there is no fight; Sony wins by a landslide, and Microsoft should be worried.

It was a great time. I watched the press conferences with a group of friends with an awesome theater setup, and there was plenty of cheering, groans, and gasps throughout the day (coupled with the always fantastic reactions on Twitter).

Jack Tretton will fucking kill you and then bring you back to life and high five you for naming him MVP.

Sony press conference was great. I'm not even much of a console gamer, but it would have been such a bummer to go into the next gen with both consoles going the Microsoft route.

I have a feeling this Assassin's Creed could surprise a few people. If there's enough depth to the naval side of it, to the point where it can be played almost like a modern day Pirates! if you want, I think that 'game within a game' could be enough even for people who are sick of Assassin's Creed. It could be a great game despite not being a great Assassin's Creed game.

It's interesting, honestly. Microsoft is embracing the most anti-consumer practices ever at a time when 3rd-party exclusives are a thing of the past. Unless they plan to rebuild the first-party stable they spent the last few years tearing apart, I don't see a reason for the Xbone to maintain much success after the initial first-holiday rush. At least Nintendo has top-tier first-party talent to rely on.

@eskimo - Sony HAD to make a big deal about not imposing system-level restrictions, simply because every pundit and gamer believed that it was simply inevitable that Sony would follow MS' lead. To assuage gamers' fears, Sony had to make a clear, bold statement that things would be no different than they were with the PS3. As for paying for PSN multiplayer, there are three reasons I don't mind:

1) XBL Gold was simply superior to PSN this generation. Anyone without fan bias could see that.

2) Since I'm abandoning Xbox Live due to not wanting an Xbone, it's not so much spending more money as moving the money somewhere else.

3, and most important) Sony has the fucking decency not to lock Netflix behind PS+. There was never a real reason you had to pay XBL just to use the Netflix and Hulu subs you were also paying for. That was highway robbery, not building a better online environment.

I'll end up with an XONE. Non of their policies effect my lifestyle. But it's almost like they're going out of their way to make people not want to buy their console.

Sony played second fiddle the entire generation and rightly so at the beginning. I was confirmed Xbot for most of the gen till the last two years or so when I grew tired with Microsoft and rediscovered my love of Sony. The PlayStation was an important part of my life.

I wasn't that into video games as a kid until I played Final Fantasy VII and had to have a PlayStation. It was this gateway into a something bigger that I didn't know I loved. Later the PS2 was my escape during a really difficult period in my teenage years with troubles at home. It wasn't just a brand to me it became something more. When I was older Sony wasn't doing the right things and all my friends had 360s so I moved to the Xbox and was content for awhile. I had a PS3 it just was a Blu-Ray player for a really long time. Three 360s later and a growing distaste for the way Microsoft was handling things it just drove me back to a Sony who had just found its footing and was coming back hard.

Seeing them now its actually a really great feeling. Seeing Sony heading back to the top brings back all those memories of the old days when gaming just seemed a little purer.

It's interesting, honestly. Microsoft is embracing the most anti-consumer practices ever at a time when 3rd-party exclusives are a thing of the past. Unless they plan to rebuild the first-party stable they spent the last few years tearing apart, I don't see a reason for the Xbone to maintain much success after the initial first-holiday rush. At least Nintendo has top-tier first-party talent to rely on.

@eskimo - Sony HAD to make a big deal about not imposing system-level restrictions, simply because every pundit and gamer believed that it was simply inevitable that Sony would follow MS' lead. To assuage gamers' fears, Sony had to make a clear, bold statement that things would be no different than they were with the PS3. As for paying for PSN multiplayer, there are three reasons I don't mind:

1) XBL Gold was simply superior to PSN this generation. Anyone without fan bias could see that.

2) Since I'm abandoning Xbox Live due to not wanting an Xbone, it's not so much spending more money as moving the money somewhere else.

3, and most important) Sony has the fucking decency not to lock Netflix behind PS+. There was never a real reason you had to pay XBL just to use the Netflix and Hulu subs you were also paying for. That was highway robbery, not building a better online environment.

@epicsteve: Nah I just read the news articles and watched some extracts, haven't watched any of the press conferences in their entirety. You're right though in pointing to Sony, but I was so blown away by the arrogance of Microsoft and the ineptitude of Nintendo that I just can't believe Sony will deliver on all it's promises. I'm not happy about the sub fees for online multiplayer. The region free and used game compatibility is good, but these are things that we should take for granted now being touted as features. It's like they're boasting that the console won't punch you in the balls every 24 hours. I just don't feel very encouraged at this point.

The games themselves don't seem nearly as revolutionary as the businessing thats gone into these new beasts, but as with everything the proof is in the pudding, and I'll be waiting to see what happens on release.

Hell yeah! Great to see some straight up enthusiasm for video games instead of the usual cynicism and anger filled debate.

What it comes down to is fun games and that's it. Any competition between companies only helps us, the end consumer. So the Microsoft vs. Sony battle isn't about picking a side, it's about watching it all play out and reaping the benefits as a consumer.

You guys are crazy not getting a ps4. Mad Max games guys!!!!! from the Avalanche studio guys!!!!COME ON! You guys are inhuman. Joking aside, I am completely hype up about all the indie spot light this E3, they are the future guys. One of those guys will go on to make a new Last of us, Halo, Kotor, FF. Support them!

I disagree, the whole event was overshadowed by the hostile policies that the new consoles will be embracing. I hardly noticed the games amongst all of the anti-consumer infrastructure that the console makers are setting up.

- The continuation of region locking. (edit -well Sony have just announced that the PS4 is region free for games, so that's some consolation)

To say this everyone thought this event was universally fantastic is simply not true. They're just shovelling out the same shit they had on the last gen consoles and locking down their platforms even more.

Sony and Microsoft appear to be living in abject fear of their customers, and they're starting to seem crazy and desperate. I had a distinct anti-gamer vibe from the whole thing. It boggles my mind that you would think this is a win for gamers.

I disagree, the whole event was overshadowed by the hostile policies that the new consoles will be embracing. I hardly noticed the games amongst all of the anti-consumer infrastructure that the console makers are setting up.

- The continuation of region locking. (edit -well Sony have just announced that the PS4 is region free for games, so that's some consolation)

To say this everyone thought this event was universally fantastic is simply not true. They're just shovelling out the same shit they had on the last gen consoles and locking down their platforms even more.

Sony and Microsoft appear to be living in abject fear of their customers, and they're starting to seem crazy and desperate. I had a distinct anti-gamer vibe from the whole thing. It boggles my mind that you would think this is a win for gamers.

Nice write up. It was indeed eventful beginning to E3. I've been talking to co-workers all day about E3 and which directions things can go for Microsoft and Sony. I also pre-ordered a PS4 but I can't help but feel that I want Microsoft to step back and look at what they have and make some changes. They have some awesome features all negative parts aside. But we really need all systems to be competitive and strive to be better. I'd love to own all consoles for the next gen just like the current one. But between PS4 and PC gaming plus the 3DS I think I'll be pretty set. Nintendo has some nice items coming as well. I'm still tempted to get a Wii U just so I can play Earthbound.

From what I can see, all I give a fuck about is the games, EA won E3, They are giving me more Mirror's Edge, Battlefield 4, and Battlefront Titanfall, Dragon Age 3 which imo have some hopes..

Second is Ubisoft, with The Division and Watch Dogs, cause I find those to seem very very interesting. and some Assassins Creed.

Third is Microsoft, they seem to have more games then Sony, and Sony is forth.

Anything that is for PC I will be playing on PC, for the consoles them self, couldn't care less, but if my internet is down for more then 30 min, I'm going to go ballistic, I'm not going to care about my Xbox. Used games is a joke, please kill it of asap and give the devs money.

Fantastic Blog and I absolutely agree with you in saying that the gamer won this E3. Competition can be and should be seen as a positive for the consumer (especially towards gamers), but to have seen it at this level from these press conferences made me somewhat proud for not just my hobby, but for the longevity of an entire industry we hold so close. This was a wonderful read and I share your enthusiasm. Long Live Gaming!

I'm glad to hear someone finally acknowledge that this isn't about consoles....it's the GAEMS!!!

And yes, Ass Creed ran out of steam.

I think the reason that the discussion has been focused on the consoles is because people want to know which console won't get in their way of trying to play games, used or otherwise. Though, I'm sure there is a minority that really cares about which company they side with (god knows why). So really, I think the majority still cares about the games.

Who is we? I hope MS picks up their game, but they showed a fair few awesome looking games so I don't see this as a "Vlawless victory", competition is good though, maybe they will stop being retarded now and realize that they are not on top because of their name anymore.

Another huge thing here, it seems to be implied that Xbox live will now be hosting dedicated servers, this is HUGE!